Interior and exterior scaffolding



UNITED STATES PATENT, FFICEO JOHN T. OBRIEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIAL INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SCAFFOLDING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,579, dated March 25,1884.

Application filed October 25, 1883. (No model.)

provements, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a scaffold embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal cross-section through the base of the upright. Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical longitudinal sections through the pieces which com: pose the feet of the uprights. Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of one of the locking-pieces by which the feet are secured. Fig. 6 is a view in perspective, and on an enlarged scale, of the box or casting which forms the base of the upright, and receives the removable feet. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the bracket which is attached to the upright; and Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the upright when adapted to rest upon a staircase.

The object of my invention is to provide a system of portable scaifolding which shall be readily erected and removed, secure when in position, and capable of adaptation to the varying requirements of use, especially in the interior of houses, where limited space and difficulties of obtaining a secure footing for the up- I rights frequently prevent the erection of ordinary scaffolds without marring the walls or floors through the use of nails, &c.

To these ends my improvements consist in the following combinations of parts: The up rights Aare constructed of ordinary scantling; but the sides, instead of being flush, are longitudinally rabbeted or grooved, as shown at a. At intervals holes I) are formed in each transverse direction through the uprights, the

series upon one side being staggered or alternate with respect to the series at right angles thereto. The lower end of the upright A, I prefer to construct of metal to avoid wear, a convenient form of device for that purpose being a cast-iron base-piece, B, in which are grooves a, forming continuations of the grooves a. The lower end of the upright A is fitted,

securely in the iron base-piece B, which may be considered as practically one piece therewith. Vertical slots 0 at right angles to one another are formed in the basepieces B, and extend through the lower end of the upright A, to receive the feet. The feet 0 are preferably constructed of wood, and provided with cen- V tral cast-iron locking-pieces D, by means of which the opposite members of each pair are secured together permanently and the two pairs locked at right angles in the base-piece B. These locking-pieces consist of plates d, having flanges 6, adapted to fit closely in the grooves a on opposite sides of the base-plate B when the central portion of the plate (2 is inserted in the slot 0. The extreme ends of the plate d project into the feet 0, and are secured thereto by horizontal bolts f. The feet, however, may be made of iron, forming, together with the lockingpiece, one casting.

Vertical slots m a are formed in the centers of 7c the plates cl, the slot m extending upward from the bottom of one plate, and the slot a downward from the top of the other, so that when the two pairs of feet are united at right angles to one another these slots permit them to come together in the same horizontal plane. The brackets F are cast in the form shown in Fig. 7 and slide freely vertically inthe grooves a of the uprights, being secured at any desired height by means of bolts g, passing through the holes in the latter, and provided with nuts h. The bolt-holes Z in the bracket may, if desired, be arranged at irregular distances to obtain a large range of adjustments. The base-pieces B, brackets F, and locking pieces'D are preferably constructed of malleable iron.

When it is desired to erect the scaffolding, the locking-piece Dof'the pair of feet shown in Fig. 3 is first inserted in one slot 0 of the basepiece, the flanges e on either side fitting in the grooves a. The locking-piece D of the other pair of feet (shown in Fig. 4) is inserted similarly in the other slot 0, and by reason of the two slots m and a coming together, both pairs of feet are permitted to slide home in the slots 0. As many uprights as are required having been thus erected, the brackets F are secured at the proper height by means of the bolts and nuts g h, and the staging is then laid across the brackets, in the usual manner;

When the upright is to be rested upon a staircase, I erect it in the following manner:

i. Only onepair of feet is inserted in the slot 0,

and two inverted brackets F are then secured IOO at different heights in the line of ascent of the steps, as shown in Fig. 8, other brackets being used as before to support the staging.

I am of course aware that the use of adjusta- 5 ble brackets is not new, and I therefore do not desire to claim such use, except in combination with the peculiarly-formed uprights and other elements more particularly referred to hereinafter. The important features ofconstruction in these uprights are the grooves upon their several faces, which permit the securing of both brackets and feet in the simplest and most efficient manner, the former being held firmly by a single bolt, and the latter requiring no I 5 bolt or similar fastening Whatever.

I claim 1. The combination, with the upright A, having longitudinal grooves a-upon its sides at different heights on opposite sides of the upright, as and for the purposes specified.

' JOHN T. OBRIEN, WVitnesses:

WM. H. MYERS, J. VVALTER DOUGLASS. 

